Match and cigarette container



Nov. 5, 1946'. G. P. RUFLE MATCH AND CIGARETTE CONTAINER Filed Dec. 10, 1943 Patented Nov. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATCH AND CIGARETTE CONTAINER Gaylord- P Ruiie, Canton, Ohio Application December 10, 1943, Serial No. 513,673

2 Claims. (01. 206-48) The invention relates to containers for a package of cigarettes or cigars and a book of matches, and in particular to a container of this character formed from a single sheet of card board or similar material.

The invention has for its object the provision of a one-piece container for a standard size cigarette package and a standard size match book, integral closure flaps being formed upon the container for the cigarette package and the match book, so that either may be opened independently of the other.

Another object is to provide a container of this kind in which one side wall is provided with -i e-entrant cutouts to compensate for the relatively smaller sizeof the ordinary paper match book and at the same time forming an entrance for the closure flaps of the cigarette container, as well as convenient means for easily opening the upper of these closure flaps when it is desired to remove a cigarette from the container.

A further object is the provision of a container of this character which may be dispensed in a folded or collapsed condition, with the match book attached thereto, and which may be easily and readily assembled about the package of cigarettes.

A still further object is to provide a container of simple construction which may be manufactured and sold for a low price and which provides a maximum area which may be utilized for ad vertising.

The above objects, together with others which will be readily understood from the drawing and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, may be attained by constructing the container in themanner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container showing the flaps of the cigarette compartment and match book in open position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the container with the match book closed and the upper flap of the cigarette compartment partially opened;

Fig. 3 a similar view showing the container in closed position;

Fig. 4 a plan view of the blank from which the container is formed;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a slight mod- Fig. 5 with the match bookassembled thereon.

Referring now to Figs. 1-4 of the drawing, in which like numbers refer to similar parts, the container is formed from a single blank indicated generally at A, of light weight cardboard or similar sheet material, scored along the lines a to form a rear wall ID, a front wall I! and side walls l2 and i2, the rear wall It! being provided with a side flap l3 adapted to be glued or pasted along the inside of the side wall 12.

The rear wall it may be provided with upper and lower end closure flaps I l and I5 respectively, forming top and bottom walls of the cigarette compartment, and provided with the extensionflaps l6 and I1 respectively adapted to extend within the assembled box between the front wall l l and the package of cigarettes assembled therein.

If desired, relatively small flaps !8 may be formed at the lower ends of the side wall l2 and flap l3 for folding within the bottom of the contain'er, within the bottom wall Ill.

The front wall I I has re-entrant cutouts l9 and 20 formed in its upper and lower edges respectively. The relatively short flap 2| extends downward from the lower re-entrant cutout and is adapted to be bent upward as shown in Figs. 1-3 inclusive, to provide means for attaching a book of paper matches 22, as by the usual wire staple 23. The usual striking surface indicated at S may be provided upon the flap 2|.

A relatively long flap 24 extends upward from the upper re-entrant cutout l9 and is adapted to be bent forwardly and down to provide a cover for the match book, the free edge thereof being detachably engaged in back of the flange 2|, as in usual practice.

The device provides a maximum area for ad vertising matter, or the like, upon the top, bottom, side and rear walls of the cigarette container, as well as upon both surfaces of the match book cover flap 24.

The container may be dispensed in folded or "collapsed condition and is especially adapted to be given away with a package of cigarettes at tobacco stores, cigar stands and the like. The

container may be easily assembled for use by closing the lower flap, inserting a, package of cigarettes and closing the upper flap as shown in Fig. 3.

The cigarettes and matches are thus both enclosed in the same container and are easily and quickly accessible. It will be seen that the reentrant cutouts l9 and 20, in the upper and lower edges of the front wall I I, provide for quick and easy insertion or withdrawal of the flaps l6 and I1 upon the top and bottom walls respectively.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a slight modification of the container in which the match book is not formed as an integral part of the cigarette container but may be detachably connected thereto.

In this form of the invention all of the parts of the container are identically the same as illustrated in- Figs. 1-4, with the exception that the flaps 2i and 24, forming the match book cover, are not provided at the lower and upper edges respectively of the front wall II. The same reference numerals are used throughout Figs. 5 and 6 to indicate similar parts above described with relation to Figs. 1-4 inclusive.

Any standard match book folder may be attached by insertin the back wall 25 of the folder between the front wall ll of the container and the cigarette package and then bending the upper portion of said back wall 25 downward and inserting the upper edge thereof beneath upturned flap 26, at the lower end of the match book provided with the usual striking surface S, thus providing a removable cover 27 for the match book as in usual and well-known practice.

I claim: I

1. A cigarette container formed from a single blank, said blank being divided to provide a front wall, a rear wall and intermediate side walls, one of said walls being provided with a flap for attachment to another of said walls to maintain the container in assembly, said rear wall being provided with extended flaps at opposite ends to form top and bottom end closing walls, extension flaps at the ends of said end closing walls, and re-entrant cutouts atthe upper and lower edges of the front wall to permit easy insertion and withdrawal of said extension flaps, the front wall being provided with an integral relatively short flap at the lower re-entrant cutout, said short flap being folded upward, a match book attached to said short flap, and an integral relatively long flap formed on the front wall at said upper re-entrant cutout and folded downward for engagement behind the short flap forming a cover for the match book.

2. A cigarette container formed from a single blank, said blank being divided to provide a front wall, a rear wall, an intermediate side wall between the front wall and rear wall, a second intermediate side wall at the outer edge of the front wall, a side flap at the outer edge of the rear wall for attachment to said last named intermediate side wall to maintain the container in assembly, extended flaps at the upper and lower ends of the rear wall, to form top and bottom end closing walls, extension flaps at the ends of said end closing walls, extension flaps at the lower ends of said first named intermediate side wall and said side flap for folding within said bottom end closing wall, re-entrant cutouts at the upper and lower edges of the front wall to permit any insertion and Withdrawal of said extension flaps, the front wall being provided with.

and folded downward for engagement behind the short flap forming a cover for the match book. GAYLORD P. RUFLE. 

